Study: Docs fail to tackle cultural barriers

WASHINGTON – Even though nearly half of U.S. physicians say language or cultural barriers can hinder their ability to provide high-quality care, efforts to overcome those barriers are limited, says a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change.
The study, based on HSC’s 2008 Health Tracking Physician Survey, found that nearly 97 percent of doctors had at least some non-English-speaking patients, but only 56 percent were in practices that used interpreters. Only 40 percent said they’d been trained in minority health issues, and 7 percent tracked patients’ preferred language.
“Although disparities certainly stem from factors beyond the physician-patient encounter, the ability of physicians to communicate effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds is important to providing high-quality care,” said HSC Senior Researcher James Reschovsky, co-author of the study.
The full document is available at www.hschange.org. •